Monday, February 8, 2010

I carry your heart in my heart

"I thank God every time I remember you."Philippians 1:3

I am made of nearly nothing. Most mornings I can't even keep the coffee in my cup. Every day when that fluid sloshes out of my Wizard of Oz mug and onto my barely awake palm, it's a scalding reminder of how utterly human I am.

And yet, God cares enough about this nearly nothing, clumsy, coffee-spilling woman to give her the greatest friends in the world.

Whoever thought that an a cappella group could create such a lasting and meaningful bond? It just goes to show that Christ moves in miraculous (yes, miraculous) ways when He is at the complete center of something. This group breathes Christ, together.

I didn't know in January 2007 how badly I needed this sisterhood. All I knew is that I wanted in. After my second audition, and my callback, I was in my dorm room in Frederikson Hall on my knees, praying to be blessed with this opportunity.

That night I got a phone call from Brett Batten Baker telling me to meet her outside. It was 2 a.m., and I was an Into Hymn member. Ever since then, my life has been completely torn down and rebuilt. All in the name of Him. All through Him. All the while being supported and loved and grown by Into Hymn.

Yes, we sing songs. We have business meetings. We perform at churches, we sell CDs, we fund raise (sometimes). More importantly we worship. Not just with our songs, but with our lives. We hold each other up. We carry each other's hearts in our hearts. We carry each others burdens and praises in our hearts. In our souls. But, it's no secret like the poet E.E. Cummings would suggest.

And, to top it all off, we're all completely nuts.

Who else would ask "How's your mom?" in order to perform a front teeth check for food gunk? Who else would say "When life gives you lemons make beef stew"? Who else would speak in borderline offensive (but, c'mon it's hilarious) Hispanic-lispy accents? Who else would have countless "turn and laugh" pictures.

Further, who would spend hours in Virgil's Barbeque in NYC taking care of the sick. Who would stop by to drop off crackers and soup when you've been throwing up all day? Who else would drop hundreds of dollars to make sure that everyone was included? Who else would give a constant shoulder to cry on, a constant ear to listen to, and a constant hand to lift and support?

Jesus Christ would. And though we have not yet taken hold of perfection...Even though we all spill our coffee and bite our tongues, Into Hymn would too.

All I know is that the ways of the world grow strangely dim when I am living among these girls.